In this episode, we explore the heart of emotional resilience: equanimity. What does it mean to stay steady in praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and pain? How do we respond without reacting? How do we build the muscle that creates space between what happens and what we choose next?

Through personal stories; ranging from hearing loss to LA traffic, we they unpack how naming emotions, practicing radical acceptance, and using beginner’s mind can shift even the most difficult moments. We also explore Stoic philosophy, Buddhist teachings, and the concept of the “second arrow,” illuminating how we create unnecessary suffering through looping narratives.

The episode closes with Neil’s original song, written during his own reckoning, a vulnerable look into perception, identity, and acceptance.